Minnesota sues to halt wind energy developer's operations

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson wants the courts to stop an Excelsior-based wind energy developer from selling new wind turbines while the court decides if his company defrauded its existing customers.

The attorney general's office filed for a temporary restraining order in Hennepin County District Court Wednesday, Feb. 13, against Renewable Energy SD LLC.

Swanson sued Renewable Energy SD in January, charging that it bilked 15 farm couples out of hundreds of thousands of dollars apiece for wind turbines that either didn't work as advertised or were never delivered.

The company said then that it was reviewing the allegations and that it was committed to its customers.

The court has set a hearing on the restraining order for Feb. 21, according to the attorney general's office.